Lately...

What we were up to last week when we weren't at the hospital:

Though his face doesn't look like it here, Will is loving his baseball class!

We met old friends at the Arboretum recently. A college friend who reads my blog emailed me that she was coming to town and since we have boys similar ages, we met for a fun playdate! Some other college friends were there too - friends I haven't seen in way too long! It was fun to catch up and meet each other's children and the Arboretum is beautiful! It has the only pumpkin village in America and each pumpkin house corresponds to a giant story book featuring a pumpkin, like Cinderella, which you can read to your child.

We had fun exploring the pumpkin houses.

Will also had fun with his new friend, Hudson. He kept comparing him to his friend Hudson back home - wanting to know if the "new Hudson" also has airplanes in his room, etc.

The boys - being forced to stop long enough for the paparazzi.

and so happy to be taking yet another photo.

Also last week, we had an appointment at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children every single day between Will & Ellie.

So, on Wednesday, I took a break & took Will for a mommy date.

We had a blast & I felt so energized and refreshed!

We did the batting cages for the first time ever. Will actually hit some of the balls and really loved it!

We also played putt-putt...

although playing in the water features and splashing mommy was way more fun than golf.

For all of about 3 holes, he worked on his swing.

(notice he is holding it backwards in the pic- poor kid with me for a golf teacher!)

He then realized it was much more efficient to just pick the ball up and put it in the hole.

Fine by me.

Sweet after bath cuddles

Fun hair styles

On the preschool agenda for the week was "5 senses." So, we worked on using all 5 senses outside the condo.

We found a stinkbug which Will killed & confirmed the accuracy of the name via the sense of smell:

And we practiced some soccer together.

Coming soon: first smiles caught on film (or memory card - whatever!) & a GIVEAWAY!!!

The (almost) Perfect Date

Tonight, Will & I had a Mommy Date. It was nearly perfect - the only thing missing was Daddy. R is back home working really hard so that he can come back for Ellie's birth in... 11 days!!! Meanwhile, Will & I are hanging out closer to Dallas - just in case she comes earlier.

My parents were going dancing tonight so Will & I had dinner together and then walked across the street to visit with some neighbors and borrow their microwave to pop popcorn. When we got home, we turned on an old Disney movie, grabbed our milk, water, & popcorn, & cuddled as close as we could get on a big chair.

Throughout the movie, my date repeatedly turned to me to say,

"Mommy, this is a great date! I love you so much, Mommy! You're my favorite girl ever!"

Will, you have my heart completely. How will my heart survive if you ever decide to leave home and get married? Surely it will break.

We ended the date reading a pirate story in his bed, talking about the day, & cuddling some more.

Oh, I love this precious boy. And I love his cuddles. And I love when he tells me how much he loves me. And I'm so glad I'm his favorite girl. He just happens to be my favorite boy, ever. R is my favorite man, ever.

And I'm relieved to think that even though I worry about having quality time with Will when Ellie may be requiring so much energy and attention, I am thankful to know that Will is not really high maintenance in this area - cuddling on the couch, reading stories, or watching half a movie can really fill his cup. Surely I can find moments for that in between hospital visits with Ellie. (If nothing else, I might cuddle & pass out from sheer exhaustion.)

A Mommy Date with Will & Ellie

Will, Mommy, & Ellie at the movies

Will & Elena below:

Recently, I asked Will out on a date with me. During my pregnancy with him, when I was meeting with a friend of mine who has a son diagnosed with Downs Syndrome, she confessed that having a boy is like having a crush with you - all the time. She is so right! I had a crush on Will the moment I laid eyes on him & it's just as strong as ever!

I love this time of life when he wants to go on dates with me! I realize it won't last forever! (Sniff sniff.)

For our recent date, a friend & I loaded up our kids in the car, put on some music for them, & headed to a nearby town to the movie theater.

We saw the Disney movie, Oceans. We were the only people in the entire theater - which was good as our children pretty much narrated the entire thing. Will loved the popcorn & cuddled in my lap for most of the movie. He still talks about the dolphins spinning in the air & the huge whales. (Jonah & the Big Fish is his current favorite Bible story so the movie has done good things for his imagination as it relates to that! :)) He also now has daily sword fights with pretend sharks.

I loved observing his tender heart as most of the baby sea turtles were eaten by seagulls - (only 1 in 1000 makes it to the ocean alive after birth!) He cried & felt terrible for those babies - so sweet that precious heart of his.

What a fun way to spend an evening!

A Mommy Date with Ellie

May 20, 2010

Sweet Ellie Girl-

Today, after our doctor's appointments, we had a girls' day. Lovie, Mommy, & you (of course!) went to a butterfly garden in Dallas. We took your brother with us too for that part of the day. Since we are decorating your nursery with sweet butterflies, I thought it would be fun to explore a butterfly garden.

I loved watching the butterflies flutter everywhere. I was reminded again of how creative our God is, Ellie. He doesn't design any two people exactly alike. Yet, He uses every creation. I thought of you, Ellie, because what others might label "wrong" or not a quality of life, a caterpillar so to speak, God looks at and sees as beautiful, majestic, & purposeful.

You are my butterfly. You are beautiful and you are being created by God with purpose.

(Will, Mommy, & Ellie in the garden.)

After a yummy girls' lunch, we went to see your first musical, Little House on the Prairie.

I rubbed you throughout the show - enjoying my time with you. I let myself somehow both dream of seeing more musicals together and yet I grieved that perhaps our first was also our last.

I loved just being with you today, Ellie.

Just now, you moved... the slightest shift but I love knowing where to place my hand and feeling you within me. Thank you - your movements are so precious to me.

I long to go on more Mommy Dates - just us girls. Your daddy has mentioned taking you out on dates too! I want to get to know you. I'm begging for more time with you.

I love you more than you can imagine -

Love, Mommy

Ellie, Mommy, & Lovie at Ellie's First Musical

3 generations of women in our family!

A is for

making Applesauce
and eating the Apples one is supposed to be placing in the crockpot

and placing the paritally eaten Apples into the crockpot to make yummy smelling homemade Applesauce

and painting with Apples

and sorting Apples by color & then counting them

A is not for cowboy but this cowboy learned how to ride his "neigh" all by himself this week! (He's finally tall enough with his new zancos!)

And, A is for Acorns and the Assortment of fall leaves one can collect this time of year on a nature walk

I have been working with Will on his numbers & letters and thanks to some ideas of another blogger's blog (the apple ideas), we did all kinds of A activities this week. We made Applesauce, Apple paintings, and Acorn men. It was so much fun enjoying the cooler fall weather & exploring new ideas for the letter A. Next up, the letter B...

A Family Date Day

Will wore his Boston hat most of today - even in the bathtub & in the swimming pool.

Doesn't it just go so well with his smocked fly-fishing jon-jon he wore to church?

PS- the shirt he is wearing belonged to my little brother- 26 years ago! How cool is that? Thanks mom, for saving so many great vintage clothes!

Mr. Handsome after church this morning

We had a family date day yesterday although we had to modify it in several areas. We thought about starting out with a breakfast at Cracker Barrel but we all slept in (Will has been sleeping past 9am lately! Loving it! I think he's making up for all those early mornings he put me through last year!) And then, Ruby (our fearful golden retriever) disappeared right before a rain storm hit. Ruby is terrified of storms- have you seen my back door which she has destroyed?!!?! She even has prescription anti-anxiety pills for storms. She escaped somehow just before a storm & then rode it out hiding under our front bushes. Of course, we had no idea she was there & we all drove around our neighborhood searching & calling for her (Will mimicked Lady & the Tramp, yelling, "Ruby, oh Ruby!")
Finally, as Will & I were walking the aisles at the animal shelter (& amazed at how many dogs there resembled doggies from the pound scene in L & the T), Reagan called to say he had located her - in our own front yard. Needless to say, she had to get groomed yesterday & we did not go to breakfast. I did, however, make a very yummy b-fast which we enjoyed prior to realizing she was gone.
Then, once it cleared up, we took Will to play put-put.
I think we played 18 holes in 26 minutes.
It was a BLAST!
Will's strategy:
1. Hit the ball with his blue club
2. Kick the ball at some point
3. Go to the ball, pick it up, & carefully place it in the hole.

Will uses his entire upper body to swing a club while gripping it with his upper arm - quite impressive, actually.
He's gonna have great abs!
And, yes, he is wearing his zancos for the first time all week - the blister is looking much better- less puffy & we just thought he'd prefer put-put with zancos. Plus, it was only for 30 minutes.

My photographer friends are cringing, I know. But I just love the image of my boys holding hands yesterday. Excuse the blurriness.

Will figured out that it was much easier eventually to hit the ball down the "green" & then pick it up & place it in the hole.

Love his little expressions!

My boys!

Happy Mommy Day!

Will & his Mommy in GA this weekend

I love those sweet Will kisses!
After flying all day, we were exhuasted! Will fell asleep around 6pm & took a short nap on me...
which I loved for my "mommy day" present!

It is an honor to be Will's Mommy!!!

I wish I had something really deep & thought provoking to post for Mother's Day but I'm too tired from our trip & I can hardly wait to get pics up from the weekend!
I had a grea Mother's Day weekend - my parents treated me to a nice resort in GA for our last night & then I got to spend Sunday flying with Will & having dinner with my boys.

I was asked a few days ago if I thought being a stay at home mom was hard. I thought for a while & responded that it was certainly hard on my heart but all in all, I think the fun of being a mom outweighs the difficulty. Sure, the endless cycles of diapers, dishes, & laundry can get monotonous. However, the feeling of purpose & the fact that I get to spend much of my day either in hysterical laughter or cuddling & kissing sure does make a few diapers, dishes, & laundry worth it! I've never laughed so much in my life.
I am so thankful to be a mom & I am thankful for both of my babies - one in heaven & one in my arms.
It is my life's honor to be R's wife & Will's mommy!

Not related at all to "happy mommy day" but I wanted to post some random pics! My mentor, Cami, found a horned toad on our front porch last week & Will loved petting it when he woke up from his nap.

Will & I also recently planted a vegetable & fruit garden. We're growing 3 types of tomatoes, mystery melon, bell peppers, & strawberries along with my usual herbs: basil, rosemary, & mint.

We'll see how it does!

Will loved helping me dig & enjoyed sitting in the holes I would dig up.

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

Look who's flying a kite ALL BY HIMSELF!!!



Go, Will, Go!!!

Help, Mom! Elmo's getting me & I'm all tangled up!

Since it's spring & we live in a town where the wind is blowing super fast - like 40mph - Will & I thought it'd be a good idea to learn how to fly a kite. Actually, while walking to the park, I thought this was one of my stupider ideas.

But...

He did it all by himself & he LOVED it!

Eventually, the kite got too tangled & we had to head home but we'll be out there again soon!